Regarding the advocacy of the interests of Lithuanian citizens and their return to Lithuania
10.3.2015
Question for written answer E-003853-15
to the Commission
Rule 130
Zigmantas Balčytis (S&D) , Vilija Blinkevičiūtė (S&D)
We have received a request from a Lithuanian citizen to help return her grandson to Lithuania. The seven-year-old child, a Lithuanian citizen, is currently being cared for temporarily by the Norwegian Child Welfare Services (Norw. Barnevernet). In 2011, the boy went with his mother to live permanently in Norway. In June 2014, upon a decision of the competent Norwegian authorities, the boy was temporarily placed in a crisis home without the consent of his mother.
On 29 January 2015, the boy was transported out of Norway in secret and found in Sweden. The competent authorities in Sweden returned the boy to Norway.
The boy’s grandmother, who lives in Lithuania, has already submitted a request to be appointed the child’s guardian and to register the child as living with her until the question of custody involving the child’s mother is resolved.
Neither the boy’s relatives nor the Lithuanian authorities have any official data from the Norwegian authorities as to the legal basis on which the child is being cared for by the Norwegian Child Welfare Services or why the child (a citizen of the Republic of Lithuania whose permanent residence is in Lithuania) has not been returned to Lithuania.
What is the Commission’s opinion:
- —In this case, are the authorities not infringing the rights of the child due to the fact that he has not been returned to his home country?
- —Are the authorities not infringing the natural rights of the child to native language, religion, traditions and knowledge of culture?
Does the Commission consider the actions of the Norwegian authorities in not returning a Lithuanian citizen to his native country to be in line with the interests of a citizen of the European Union? Will the Commission take action to protect the rights of an EU citizen and return the child to Lithuania?